Introduction
Sid Meier isn't the most talented programmer the world has ever seen. He doesn't lie awake nights striving for the most exquisitely optimized 3D engine, and you don't have to own the latest state-of-the-art computer to play his games either - an oddity in an industry obsessed with pushing the envelope almost until it shreds.
 | When you see Sid Meier's picture, follow the link to read his thoughts
on his work and about his experiences as a game designer. |
But it's the rare gamer indeed who doesn't own one - or more likely several - of Sid Meier's games. The body of Sid's work can be seen as a microcosm of the industry's journey from the early Apple and Commodore 64 games to today's hi-tech PCs, and for that alone it has historical significance. But the reason Sid Meier stands apart from other designers is that many of his older games stand as much more than museum pieces, even in today's graphics-intensive market: Not only are EGA/VGA titles like Railroad Tycoon and Pirates! still on the shelves, Civilization II is also selling quite well, more than two years after its initial release.
The Sid Meier philosophy has always been to keep the pace of the game moving, and to keep it fun. Throughout his career, Sid has managed, much in the same manner as a good film director or novelist, to cut to the essence of whatever secret he's letting us in on. As a result, every Sid Meier game is worthwhile, even to those only marginally interested in the subject matter. At a time in his career when most designers would be happy to retire, legacy intact, Sid continues to look for new challenges - like this past year's Gettysburg and the upcoming Sid Meier's Alpha Centauri. As long as Sid keeps his passion about crafting games that he wants to play, it's a good bet that gamers everywhere will share his enthusiasm.
Join us for a tour of Sid Meier's games, from the early obscure titles to the well-known classics. We'll even peek into some corners that Sid himself would probably wish would stay hidden, but that's half the fun, especially when we hear it from Sid himself.
Next: In the beginning... 
